the sole will of the lawmakers? Yet, say that Solomon had no reason
for this his commandment, except his own will and pleasure for trying the
obedience of Shemei, who will say that princes have as great liberty and
power of commanding at their pleasure in matters of religion as in civil
matters? If we consider the breach of the commandments, he is still at
random. Though God tried Adam but with an apple, yet divines mark in his
eating of that forbidden fruit many gross and horrible sins,(652) as
infidelity, idolatry, pride, ambition, self-love, theft, covetousness,
contempt of God, profanation of God's name, ingratitude, impostacy,
murdering of his posterity, &c. But, I pray, what exorbitant evils are
found in our modest and Christian-like denial of obedience to the law of
the ceremonies? When Shemei transgressed king Solomon's commandment,
besides the violation of this,(653) and the disobeying of the charge
wherewith Solomon (by the special direction and inspiration of God) had
charged him, that his former wickedness, and that which he hath done to
David, might be returned upon his head, the Divine Providence so fitly
furnishing another occasion and cause of his punishment. There was also a
great contempt and misregard showed to the king, in that Shemei, knowing
his own evil-deservings, acknowledged (as the truth was) he had received
no small favour, and therefore consented to the king's word as good, and
promised obedience. Yet for all that, upon such a petty and small occasion
as the seeking of two runagate servants, he reckoned not to despise the
king's mercy and lenity, and to set at nought his most just commandment.
What! Is nonconformity no less piacular? If any will dare to say so, he is
bound to show that it is so. And thus have we pulled down the untempered
mortar wherewith Hall would hide the idolising of the ceremonies.

_Sect._ 4. But Thirdly, Did not Rachel make Jacob an idol, when she
ascribed to him a power of giving children? "Am I in God's stead?" saith
Jacob, Gen. xxx. 1, 3. How much more reason have we to say that the
ceremonies are idols, are set up in God's stead, since an operative virtue
is placed in them, for giving stay and strength against sin and tentation,
and for working of other spiritual and supernatural effects? Thus is the
sign of the cross an idol to those who conform to Papists in the use of
it. M. Ant. de Dominis holdeth,(654) _Crucis signum contra daemones esse
praesidium_; and that